‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’.
Matthew 26:41Mark 14:38
Jesus spoke these words in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Gethsemane was a favourite place of retreat for Jesus and His disciples, they would meet in Gethsemane to pray, study, relax and have, refreshments and private discussions.
Luke 22:14 record, while in Gethsemane Jesus, ‘withdrew a stone’s throw beyond the disciples, knelt down and prayed’.
It’s thought that Jesus action in Gethsemane gave rise to Christians kneeling in prayer.
When was the last time you knelt and prayed? If you’ve taken time out to pray for someone in need today, then God bless and prosper you for that.
‘Watch and pray,’
Why?
‘So, that you will not fall into temptation’, said Jesus, because,
‘The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’.
We are all familiar with physical tiredness and weakness. Our muscles, fat, skin, bones, blood and mental health is not always strong. By flesh, Jesus meant the whole of human nature from the aspect of its frailty and needs. Flesh includes our will and emotions which according to Scripture are often weak and distant God.
But before Jesus said the ‘flesh is weak’ Jesus also mentions that ‘the spirit is willing’
The human “spirit" in Bible terms indicates a person’s invisible entity viewed in its relation to God. The human spirit is recipient of God's favour. This spirit we have is the means through which we can worship God.
Jesus was telling the disciples you are spiritually eager, but you also need to be spiritually alert and watchful. A willing spirit is not enough. Jesus was emphasising that watchfulness and prayerfulness are essential for resisting temptations.
The disciple Peter learned this lesson the hard way. When the mob turned up at Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, Peter was physically ready to fight them and quickly drew his sword. But Jesus told Peter
‘Put your sword away’
Don’t use a weapon to stab anyone. Maybe this is an option for some people who are involved in knife crime these days. You might consider putting your knives into a secure knife disposable bin. It will make the streets a safer place. It will save lives. In Gethsemane Jesus rejected the world’s weapons.
Jesus wasn’t going to conquer the world by sword. Jesus conquered the world by a cross. Jesus not only stopped Peter from fighting with a sword or knife. Jesus even gave himself up to His enemies.
Peter chose the wrong weapon and fought with a sword. Why? Because Peter wasn’t spiritually alert. Judas the betrayer and the authorities arrived and took Jesus away.
Peter again wasn’t spiritually alert. Soon after Jesus was arrested Peter three times, famously denied his friendship with Jesus.
It’s interesting to note in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus came to Peter three times and asked Peter saying, ‘Keep awake’. ‘Be watchful’. ‘Remain spiritually alert’. Three times Jesus asked Peter to stay awake and stay vigilant. Ironically Peter three times disowned Jesus. Three times Peter was not watchful. Three times temptation got the better of Peter.
Peter found out that night that, temptation was very real. Likewise with every Christian. Temptation is real. What was Peter’s temptation? The temptation for Peter was to become untrue to Jesus. Peter by his three denials became untrue to Jesus.
I look back on my Christian life and I can say that all my failures and sins have one thing in common. They all made me untrue to Jesus.
Watchfulness and prayerfulness are two essential weapons that can stop the attacks of temptation.
But temptation was not only real for us and the disciples. Temptation was also real for Jesus.
But unlike Peter and unlike me, in temptation Jesus always remained true to Himself. In temptation Jesus always remained true to His Heavenly Father. In temptation Jesus always remained true to Scripture. For Jesus the temptations were real but because Jesus was spiritually alert, the victories over temptation were also real Hebrews 5:7-10.
Summary
Prayer doesn’t mean we have our own way in every conflict. God’s plans are to wise to always give us what we ask for. Rather, prayer gives us strength to meet our temptations. Prayer is about doing things God’s way. And the right prayer in Jesus’ name will always give us strength for every temptation.
